Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Ministerial department of the UK Government

Not to be confused with the preceding Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2017–2023), the defunct Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–2009), or the historic Ministry of Technology (1964–1970).

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Logo

100 Parliament Street, Westminster
Department overview
Formed| 7 February 2023 (2023-02-07)
Preceding agencies|

* Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
* Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Type| UK Government Department
Jurisdiction| Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters| London, England
Secretary of State responsible|

* The Rt Hon. Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Department executives|

* Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary
* Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
* Freya Guinness, Chief Operating Officer
*     * Jo Shanmugalingam
* Susannah Storey

, Directors General

Child agencies|

* Advanced Research and Invention Agency
* UK Space Agency
* Intellectual Property Office
* Building Digital UK
* Met Office
* UK Research and Innovation
* Ordnance Survey
* Council for Science and Technology
* Government Office for Science
* Regulatory Horizons Council
* National Physical Laboratory
* Copyright Tribunal
* Information Commissioner's Office

Website| gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology
This article is part of a series on

Politics of the United Kingdom

Constitution

* Magna Carta
* Bill of Rights
* Treaty of Union (Acts of Union)
* Parliamentary sovereignty
* Rule of law
* Separation of powers
* Other constitutional principles

The Crown

* The Monarch (list)

Charles III

* Heir apparent

William, Prince of Wales

* * *

* Royal family
* Succession
* Prerogative
* Counsellors of State
* Republicanism in the United Kingdom

Executive

* Privy Council

Charles III
(King-in-Council)

* * *

* HM Government

* Cabinet (list)

Sunak ministry (C)

* Prime Minister (list)

Rishi Sunak (C)

* Deputy Prime Minister

Oliver Dowden (C)

* * *

* Departments
* Ministers
* Agencies

Legislature

* UK Parliament

Charles III
(King-in-Parliament)

* * *

* House of Lords

* Lord Speaker

The Lord McFall of Alcluith

* * *

* House of Commons

* Speaker

Sir Lindsay Hoyle

* Leader of the Opposition

Sir Keir Starmer (L)

* * *

* 58th Parliament
* Opposition
* List of MPs

Judiciary

Charles III
(King-on-the-Bench)

* * *

* Supreme Court

* President

The Lord Reed

* Deputy President

The Lord Hodge

* Justices of the Supreme Court

* * *

* United Kingdom
* England and Wales
* Scotland
* Northern Ireland

Bank of England

* Governor

Andrew Bailey

* Deputy governors

Monetary Policy Committee

* * *

* Currencies
* Banknotes
* Coins

Elections and referendums

* UK Parliament constituencies (2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies)
* Political parties
* Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
* Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
* Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions
* Senedd constituencies and electoral regions

UK general elections

* * *

* 1801 co-option
* 1802
* 1806
* 1807
* 1812
* 1818
* 1820
* 1826
* 1830
* 1831
* 1832–33
* 1835
* 1837
* 1841
* 1847
* 1852
* 1857
* 1859
* 1865
* 1868
* 1874
* 1880
* 1885
* 1886
* 1892
* 1895
* 1900
* 1906
* 1910 (Jan–Feb)
* 1910 (Dec)
* 1918
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1929
* 1931
* 1935
* 1945
* 1950
* 1951
* 1955
* 1959
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974 (Feb)
* 1974 (Oct)
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1992
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2010
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* Next

European Parliament elections (1979–2019)

* * *

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019

Scottish Parliament elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

Northern Ireland Assembly elections

* * *

* 1998
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2017
* 2022
* Next

Senedd elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

UK referendums

* * *

* 1975
* 2011
* 2016

Devolution

* Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
* Legislative consent motions

* * *

England

* Governance of England
* English votes for English laws
* Greater London Authority
* 1998 referendum
* Greater London Authority Act 1999
(2007 Act)
* Mayor of London
* Sadiq Khan
* Mayoral cabinet
* London Assembly
* London Plan
* Combined authorities
* Metro mayors
* Cornwall Council

* * *

Northern Ireland

* Northern Ireland Act 1998
(2006 Act)
* First Minister
* Vacant
* deputy First Minister
* Vacant
* Executive
* Assembly
* Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly
* Law of Northern Ireland

* * *

Scotland

* Scottish devolution
* 1997 referendum
* Scotland Act 1998
(2012 Act, 2016 Act)
* First Minister
* Humza Yousaf
* Government
* Scottish Parliament
* Act of the Scottish Parliament
* Scottish statutory instrument
* Scots law

* * *

Wales

* Welsh devolution
* 1997 referendum
(2011 referendum on law-making powers)
* Government of Wales Act 1998
(2006 Act, Wales Act 2014, Wales Act 2017)
* First Minister
* Mark Drakeford
* Government
* Senedd
* Measure of the National Assembly for Wales (1999–2011)
* Act of Senedd Cymru
* Welsh law

Administration

England

* History
* Subdivisions: Regions
* Ceremonial counties (list)
* Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties
* Metropolitan county
* Non-metropolitan county
* Greater London
* Unitary authorities (list)
* Districts (list)
* Metropolitan Borough
* Non-metropolitan District
* London Borough
* Civil parishes (list)
* Historic counties

* * *

Northern Ireland

* History
* Subdivisions: Counties
* Districts

* * *

Scotland

* History
* Subdivisions: Sheriffdoms
* Council areas
* Community council areas
* Civil parishes
* Shires of Scotland

* * *

Wales

* History
* Preserved counties
* Principal areas
* Communities (list)
* Historic counties

Crown Dependencies

* Bailiwick of Guernsey

* (Guernsey
* Alderney
* Sark)

* * *

* Bailiwick of Jersey

* * *

* Isle of Man

* * *

* British Islands
* Common Travel Area

Overseas Territories

* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Anguilla

Bermuda
* British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands

Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar

Montserrat
* Pitcairn Islands

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
(Saint Helena
* Ascension Island

Tristan da Cunha)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

* * *

* British Overseas Territories citizen
* Visa requirements
* Visa policies

* * *

* British Overseas Territories Act 2002
* Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
* Gibraltar sovereignty dispute
* Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute

Foreign relations

* Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
* Foreign policy (history)

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in the United Kingdom

* * *

* UK passport
* British National (Overseas) passport
* Visa requirements
* UK–CD Customs Union
* Visa policy
* Trade agreements

* * *

* Australia
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Belize
* Brunei
* Canada
* China
* Hong Kong
* Cyprus
* Denmark
* France
* Germany
* India
* Israel
* Italy
* Japan
* Kenya
* Malaysia
* Malta
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Norway
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Spain
* South Africa
* Palestine
* Pakistan
* Poland
* Portugal
* United States
* Zimbabwe

* * *

* Ireland
* politics of Northern Ireland
* Good Friday Agreement
* UK–Ireland border
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* British–Irish Council

* * *

* European Union (history)
* Brexit
* Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
* UK–EU withdrawal agreement

* * *

* The Commonwealth
* member states

* * *

* United Kingdom and the United Nations
* United Nations Security Council
* P5

* * *

* NATO
* G20
* G7

United Kingdom portal

* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)[1] is a department of the government of the United Kingdom. Established by Rishi Sunak in February 2023, DSIT took on policy responsibilities from the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The new department is responsible for helping to encourage, develop and manage the UK's scientific, research, and technological outputs. DSIT is also responsible for managing the necessary physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support the British economy, UK public services, national security, and wider UK Government priorities.[2]

The department is led by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, supported by a number of junior ministers, and senior civil servants. The incumbent Secretary of State is Michelle Donelan; she is the first to hold the role, having previously been the final Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

## History[edit]

The department was established on 7 February 2023 after a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It absorbed some of the functions and responsibilities of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the 'Digital' portfolio from the former Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The new department's first Secretary of State, Michelle Donelan, was the final Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Additionally, the new department became responsible for a number of agencies and offices drawn from across the rest of the UK Government. These included the Government Office for Science (formerly under BEIS), the Office for Science and Technology Strategy (formerly of the Cabinet Office), the Office for Life Sciences (jointly with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), formerly a BEIS-DHSC joint unit) and the Office for Artificial Intelligence (formerly of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport).[3]

## Responsibilities[edit]

The following responsibilities of DSIT were outlined by Rishi Sunak upon the department's establishment in 2023.

### Research and innovation[edit]

DSIT is responsible for positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement. It is intended for the department to drive innovation that changes lives and sustains economic growth. It will do this by maintaining and developing the physical and digital infrastructure and regulation necessary to support the UK economy and public services, and UK national security.[2]

Another stated responsibility of the department is to put British public services, including the NHS and schools at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working (with an express focus on STEM subjects to improve outcomes for people.[2]

DSIT is further responsible for managing the UK Government's Research and Development schemes, aiming to optimise public investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private investment in an effort to make the UK economy the "most innovative" in the world. Moreover, DSIT is charged with promoting a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure. This is with the professed intention of making the UK the "best place" to start and grow a technology business or to develop and attract "top talent." DSIT also functions as a means of strengthening international collaboration on science and technology in line with the findings of the 2021 Integrated Review, and to ensure that British researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.[2]

### Legislation and regulation[edit]

On a legislative and regulatory level, DSIT is responsible for delivering key legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation. This includes completing the passage of a new Online Safety Bill, a new Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and a new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill. DSIT is also responsible for leading the UK Government's pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.[2]

## Ministers[edit]

As of 14 November 2023, the Department's ministerial team consists of:[4]

Photo  | Name  | Title  | Portfolio

|
|
|

| The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP  | Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Responsibilities include:

Online Safety Bill; oversight of science and technology; economic and national security; skills and talent; landscape review; research bureaucracy; regulation; overall R&D budget; Horizon Europe; Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA); UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) relationship; OneWeb shareholding; British Technology Investments Ltd

| The Rt Hon John Whittingdale MP  | Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure  | The minister is responsible for:

telecoms and digital infrastructure; sponsoring BDUK'; National Data Strategy; Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO); Ofcom

| Andrew Griffith MP  | Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation | The minister is responsible for:

Domestic science and research ecosystem, including university research and public sector research establishments (PSREs); Innovation Strategy; international science and research; Horizon Europe; space sector; life sciences; quantum; engineering biology; place and levelling up; regulation of innovation, including the Regulatory Horizon Council; R&D People and Culture Strategy; Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA); Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT; UK Research and Innovation (UKRI; UK Space Agency (UKSA)

| The Rt Hon Viscount Camrose | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Intellectual Property  |

\- Supporting the delivery of HMG’s AI programme in the Lords
\- Cyber
\- Intellectual property
\- Geospatial commission
\- Ordnance Survey
\- All DSIT business in the lords

| Saqib Bhatti MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy | The Minister has responsibility for:

Online safety policy, including the National Security Online Information Team; digital regulation, including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill and Digital Markets Unit; digital skills policy; digital inclusion policy; tech policy and market facing tech; international tech strategy, including the internet governance and standards; economic security policy (relevant to tech), including semiconductor strategy; digital identity policy; supporting the delivery of HMG’s AI programme in the House of Commons, including the AI Safety Institute

During her maternity leave, Donelan was temporarily replaced as Secretary of State by Chloe Smith.[5]

Additional ministers were later added:

* Julia Lopez MP (replaced during her maternity leave by Sir John Whittingdale MP), Minister of State (Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure)
* Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Intellectual Property) - Unpaid

The department's ministers are supported by the department's civil servants under the leadership of a Permanent Secretary. The incumbent Permanent Secretary is Sarah Munby; previously the final Permanent Secretary at the now defunct Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.[6]

The Government Chief Scientific Adviser is also attached to the department, and holds the rank of Permanent Secretary. The incumbent Chief Scientific Adviser is Dame Angela McLean.[7]

## See also[edit]

* Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2017–2023) – from which DSIT absorbed the digital portfolio.
* Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016–2023) – defunct department from which DSIT inherited various responsibilities
* Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–2009) – a defunct UK government department with a similar overall purpose.
* Ministry of Technology (1964–1970) – an historic UK government department with similar responsibilities.
* UK Research and Innovation
* Advanced Research and Invention Agency

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Science, innovation and technology takes top seat at Cabinet table – GOV.UK". gov.uk. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
2. ^ a b c d e Making Government Deliver for the British People: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow (PDF). UK Government. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
3. ^ Crerar, Pippa; Elgot, Jessica (7 February 2023). "Rishi Sunak appoints Greg Hands as Conservative party chair in cabinet mini-reshuffle". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
4. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: February 2023". GOV.UK. HM Government. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
5. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: April 2023". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
6. ^ Rutter, Jill (8 February 2023). "Will Sunak's reorganisation of government work and will it last?". UK In A Changing Europe. UK In A Changing Europe. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
7. ^ "New Government Chief Scientific Adviser Appointed". GOV.UK. HM Government. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Official webpage on GOV.UK.
* Making Government Deliver: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow policy paper forwarded by Rishi Sunak explaining the rationale for the department.

* v
* t
* e

Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom

Ministerial|

* Advocate General for Scotland
* Attorney General's Office
* Business and Trade
* Cabinet Office
* Defence
* Culture, Media and Sport
* Education
* Energy Security and Net Zero
* Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
* Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
* Health and Social Care
* Home
* Justice
* Leader of the House of Commons
* Leader of the House of Lords
* Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland Office
* Science, Innovation and Technology
* Transport
* Treasury
* UK Export Finance
* Wales Office
* Work and Pensions

Non-ministerial|

* Charity Commission for England and Wales
* Competition and Markets Authority
* Crown Prosecution Service
* Food Standards Agency
* Forestry Commission
* Government Actuary's Department
* Government Legal Department
* Land Registry
* Revenue and Customs
* National Crime Agency
* National Savings and Investments
* Ofsted
* Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
* Ofqual
* Office of Rail and Road
* Serious Fraud Office
* Supreme Court
* National Archives
* UK Statistics Authority
* Ofwat

* Category
* Commons

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template